The 50 best value small colleges in America

The 50 best value small colleges in America

Some high schoolers on the hunt for the perfect college are looking for a place where they won’t get lost in the crowd. Small colleges can provide a closer sense of community for young adults leaving home for the first time. Before they get to campus, however, students have to figure out a way to pay for it all. On average, four years at a public college in-state will cost $56,840, while private colleges average $104,400; and prices are going up every year. After dozens of applications for scholarships, financial aid, and loans, students can be left feeling like just another number in the system.

To save some time for those students looking for a smaller community and a more affordable price tag, Stacker took a look at Niche’s list of Best Value Colleges in 2019, which uses Department of Education data on net price, alumni earnings, graduation rate, and student debt at graduation to rank the most affordable colleges around the country. Stacker then selected the top 50 schools with a student body of fewer than 5,000, with the ranks listed on each slide after “value grade” to show where these schools sit on Niche’s overall value list.

Looking for a great value small college? Click or swipe through to find which branch of the U.S. military topped our list, and perhaps find the perfect fit for your personality and your wallet while you’re at it.